When it comes to the mouth and oral health, some
people may think about bacteria and other organisms that can't be seen by naked eye, but the
large number of bacteria within the mouth likely goes on unnoticed by the majority of people.
With over six hundred types of bacteria in the human mouth at any given time, there are bound
to be occasional problems, one of the most undesirable and embarrassing of which is halitosis,
or bad breath.

The Life and Times of Oral Bacteria
The highest concentration of bacteria is typically located on the back of the tongue. Here,
bacteria lives and multiplies in grooves and crannies below the surface, making it difficult to
brush them away. Layers and films of decaying food particles, post-nasal drip, and other
materials treat bacteria to a veritable smorgasbord of energy and accommodations, and when
certain types of bacteria, called anaerobic, have set up shop on the tongue (though the cheeks,
tonsils, and inter-dental cavities are also suspect areas), they produce the materials capable of
making the breath smell especially foul. Anaerobic bacteria feed on various proteins within the
mouth, and break these proteins down into amino acids. The breakdown of these amino acids,
in turn, involves the release of certain substances called Volatile Sulfur Compounds, or VSCs.
These compounds are responsible for creating bad breath, and there are many different kinds.

Understanding VSCs
Hydrogen sulfide, a common VSC, has the odor of rotten eggs and is poisonous in more
substantial amounts than those produced by mouth-borne bacteria. Methyl Mercaptan reminds
most people of rotten cabbage, and Skatole, though present in some floral essential oils in tiny
amounts, typically has a fecal scent in concentrations within the mouth. Both are
frequently-reported VSCs involved in halitosis. Cadaverine, as the name suggests, is often
associated with the putrefaction of animal meat, and has an unpleasant odor; Putrescine is
closely related. Isovaleric Acid retains a cheesy or sweaty smell, and dimethyl disulfide
produces an unpleasant smell that can be noticed when cooking some foods including beetroot
and certain types of seafood. By themselves or in combination, these substances are easily

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able to impact the odor of the mouth, causing bad breath that may persist even after brushing
the teeth or flossing. To combat these types of bacteria while still promoting the healthy growth
of â&#x20AC;&#x153;goodâ&#x20AC;? bacteria in the mouth (after all, we rely on various bacteria throughout our bodies to
stay healthy and take care of various functions), special cleaning techniques and products can
be used by dental professionals and their patients at home.